Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary GAA17CA513

Belle Fourche, SD, USA

Aircraft #1

N2982U

CESSNA 172

Analysis

The flight instructor reported that he was demonstrating a "full [aerodynamic] stall" landing for the student pilot in "stiff" gusting crosswind conditions. He added that the airplane crossed the runway threshold at 2 ft, the stall warning sounded, and then a "strong [wind] gust lifted the aircraft to…[approximately] 6 feet with the stall warning still sounding." He further added that he immediately applied power to go around, but the "gust died out." Subsequently, the left wing dropped and impacted terrain, and the airplane nosed over. The fuselage, right wing, and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station 17 nautical miles southwest from the accident site reported, about the time of the accident, wind from 110° at 12 knots. The landing was on runway 36. The flight instructor failed to submit the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident/ Incident Report.

Factual Information

The flight instructor reported that, he was demonstrating a "full [aerodynamic] stall" landing for the student pilot in "stiff" gusting crosswind conditions. He added that, the airplane crossed the runway threshold at two feet, the stall warning sounded, and then a "strong [wind] gust lifted the aircraft to appx [approximately] 6 feet with the stall warning still sounding." He further added that, he immediately applied power to go-around, but the "gust died out." Subsequently, the left wing dropped, impacted terrain, and the airplane nosed over. The fuselage, right wing, and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor did not report that there were any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station, about the time of the accident, 17 nautical miles southwest from the accident site, reported wind from 110° at 12 knots. The landing was on runway 36. The flight instructor failed to submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident/ Incident Report.

Probable Cause and Findings

The flight instructor's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a go-around in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

Get all the details on your iPhone or iPad with:

Aviation Accidents App

In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports